Craig Parker, head of global IT services propositions, at BT Global Services tells DCM how to set up a data centre from the comfort of your desk

Late last year BT Global Services launched its Virtual Data Centre (VDC); an online portal that allows customers to buy the exact IT capacity they need, rather than commit to tailored hosting agreements. The service gives customers the ability to configure an entire data centre from a single online console, provisioning servers, storage and network resources that can then be deployed in the physical environment.

We took the concept of server and storage virtualisation – already proven in customers’ own data centres – and applied this to a hosted environment where IT infrastructure is provided as a service. The “click to buy/build” infrastructure allows not just remote management and maintenance but remote provisioning and upgrading of the data centre infrastructure.
The result is a dramatic reduction in the time it takes to build and deploy a data centre. A blade-based server architecture, combined with NetApp storage arrays and virtualisation software, allows customers to have infrastructure and Windows-based applications up and running on the VDC in just five days, with additional virtual servers provisioned in just 15 minutes. That compares to between 28 days and six weeks to order, install and provision conventional, on-premise or dedicated data centre hardware.

But what does it look like, how does it work, and what are the steps to make it happen? We’ve broken it down into a play by play guide to show you exactly that.

Step 1: Creating a data centre from blank
Once logged-in to the BT VDC portal, select ‘Create from Blank’ to start your new data centre. From here you can manage all attributes of the data centre, submit your design for pricing, save your design to be used for later or as a template to be replicated, add additional servers, add value-added services, increase internet bandwidth or change from fixed to burstable, create firewall rulesets as well as define management rules for each virtual server.

Step 2: Set VDC properties
To set the VDC attributes select the ‘MyVDC’ button. From the properties page, you can name your VDC as well as enter a description. You’ll also need to:

• Define whether Dynamic Resource Scheduling (DRS) is required or not
  DRS provides the ability to dynamically balance virtual servers within the available compute resources and optimise the performance of the VDC. DRS is only in operation where more than one computing unit (hardware) has been deployed.
• Define whether High Availability is required or not
  High Availability enables virtual servers to be automatically restarted on an alternative compute unit. If a host compute unit fails then all the virtual servers on that host will be restarted on an alternative compute unit.
• Select the VDC Performance

You must select the desired performance template for the VDC. Three options are available and will determine the number of virtual servers that can be deployed on each compute unit.

1. Economy: Best suited to lightly used VDC’s or where groups of virtual servers will be used independently of each other. Examples are test and development platforms or a platform where one group of virtual servers are used while other virtual servers groups are idol.
2. Standard: This option will provide an adequate level of performance for general purpose use.
3. Enhanced: Best suited to VDC’s that require a higher level of performance or where large volumes of data are being processed by all servers within the VDC simultaneously.
   This setting determines the density of virtual server that will be deployed on the physical hardware.

Step 3: Internet
On selecting “Internet” the following dialog box will open. By default you are provided with 1Mb/s of Internet bandwidth. This can be increased in increments of 1Mb/s up to 99Mb/s.
Select “Burstable” if you wish to have the ability to burst to twice your committed amount.

Step 4: Firewall
A firewall rule must have a source, destination, port and protocol.
• Source: The options are Internet, VDC, Server Group or public IP Address
• Destination: Again the options are Internet, VDC, or public IP Address
• Connection: Select from the drop down menu
Once selected choose “Add Rule”. This process should be repeated until all your desired rules are inputted. Where dangerous rules have been applied you will required to confirm you accept the additional risk they pose.

Step 5: Set management rules
In order to access each virtual server within the VDC a management rule needs to be created. In order to simplify this process where multiple servers have been specified you can create the rules individually or for a Server Group or VDC.
To create the rules you will first need to selected the “Source”. Using the “Destination” drop down menu select either a server, Server Group or VDC.

Step 6: To add a new virtual server

Use the screen to see the attributes of a particular server or to add a new server.
Each virtual server should be given a name so it can be associated with a particular Server Group. From here, you’ll need to define:

• A hardware template
• Each virtual server can be sized in terms of CPU, RAM and dedicated NetApp storage. The standard templates are Large, medium and Small:
• Large 4 x virtual CPU, 8Gb virtual RAM, 200Gb storage
• Medium    2 x virtual CPU, 4Gb virtual RAM, 100Gb storage
• Small 1 x virtual CPU, 2Gb virtual RAM, 50Gb storage
• If you choose to create your own Virtual servers the following choices are available:
• CPU    1, 2 or 4 virtual CPU
• RAM    1, 2, 4 or 8Gb virtual RAM
  Dedicated storage    Up to a maximum of 999Gb

• Priorities
  Each virtual server is allocated a priority in case of resource congestion. There is a resource ratio of High, Medium, and Low.
• Software Options
  Select the operating system for the virtual server and if applicable / available a pre configured software.
• Application Storage Backup
  Applications Storage Backup is the local backup of the virtual server. BT utilises NetApp SnapShot technology to provide the backup, and gives you the option to select one of three backup regimes; Bronze, Silver or Gold. The different options will determine the frequency of backup.

You’re also able to choose whether an individual virtual server has load balancing applied or not. By removing load balancing from the virtual server it will no longer have access to in bound traffic however management and out bound traffic will still be available.

Step 7: Server Group
Key attributes:

• Within the Server Group you have the ability to provision shared storage hosted on a NetApp storage array. This storage is shared and made available for all the virtual servers within the group. You may select up to 999Gb and are also required to select the performance of the storage.
• Shared storage is presented via CIFS. Simply defined as “Slow” is capacity hosted on SATA disk and “Fast” capacity hosted on Fibre Channel disk. Like the virtual server, the shared storage can also be backedup. You are able to select your desired regime and the retention period.
• Within VDC you have the ability to monitor an external url for its availability.

Step 8: Value added services
Within the Value Added Services window you can activate a new service by selecting the virtual servers you wish the service to be applied to. Each of your virtual servers will be listed – simply tick the check box next to the appropriate servers.
Step 8: Submitting, monitoring and managing your virtual data centre
Now that you have made all your selections you can save the design as a draft, template, or submit it to the instant pricing engine.
Once the VDC is set up, you can then mount and restore backups, add a new server in just 15 minutes using the NetApp-powered “Flex Server”, as well as easily monitor and manage your VDC from a single interface. You can also generate and automate reports on:

• Internet bandwidth usage
• Firewall Ruleset reporting
• Server Performance reports
• CPU utilisation
• Disk utilisation
• Memory utilisation
• Uptime of the server
• Failed logins
• Processes running
• Paging
• Server discovery reports
• Antivirus reports
• Current Backup / List Backups

Your VDC is underpinned by a full ITILv3 Service Wrap to agreed security levels, delivered to a known Service Level Availability of 99.9%.

Moving towards a dynamic data centre model

For BT customers, the VDC provides a reliable, resilient and lower-cost alternative to in-house data centres, conventional, single tenancy outsourcing and one-size fits all hosted services. The VDC is a real alternative for mid-sized and larger businesses looking to move all or part of their IT resources onto a pay for use platform. It also puts enterprise-grade IT infrastructures within reach of mid-sized businesses where they might otherwise be beyond means and technical expertise.
Today, the options available to businesses to manage their data are greater than ever, and they will only increase. If you’re looking at a new data centre build or even just adding a few new servers, consider launching them virtually.